Bel-Air: An Unnecessary Reboot Of A Classic Sitcom

Bel-Air was the much-awaited reboot of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a show that gave us the legendary Will Smith.

The latter was one of the few sitcoms that tried to have an original sense of humor and seemed to be the perfect family show which had something for everyone.

When Bel-Air was announced, everyone anticipated something incredible. After all, anything with Will Smith involved is bound to be that.

The show was promoted as a dramatic version of the OG show, with Will Smith as the executive producer, and fans couldn’t wait to see what was there in store for them.

However, Bel-Air seems like a done-and-dusted family drama that tackles racial discrimination issues. So what makes it an unnecessary reboot, and why does it disappoint us all?

Bel-Air is an unnecessary reboot since it is far from the original sitcom. It could’ve been a standalone show with a crisp screenplay without the cliche tropes.

Bel-Air as a show is like any other family drama. It involves money, drugs, power, jealousy, etc. The way it showcases all of this is pretty cliche.

It tries to tackle issues-oriented with black lives and highlight some critical problems people of color face even today, no matter which rung of the societal hierarchy they are in.

While addressing such issues makes the show quite insightful, it seems pretty superficial because of the way it depicts them. The storyline is predictable, and you can easily guess what will happen to a character.

But one question that comes back to me every time I watch an episode is, ‘Why is the show a reboot?’

It could’ve very well been a standalone series with no connections from the previous sitcom. Bel-Air is an out-and-out drama, while the original one was a sitcom.

The show also drifts far away from the original when it comes to the way it talks about different societal aspects. Fresh Prince was a feel-good show that was always optimistic. However, Bel-Air seems like an entirely different show.

The only thing that seems to be tying the two together is the core premise. To me, it looks like the original show has merely helped Bel-Air garner attention.

However, even if I consider keeping the legacy aside, Bel-Air is an average show at best and doesn’t do much with the attention it has garnered.

To summarize it all, Bel-Air could’ve been a much better standalone series with a tighter narrative that depicted all these issues with more depth.

In a generation where reboots and remakes are becoming increasingly popular, most of these are not living up to the original pieces, and Bel-Air is no exception to that.

About Bel-Air

Bel-Air is an American drama television series developed by Morgan Cooper, Malcolm Spellman, TJ Brady, and Rasheed Newson. It is a reimagined version of the 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air . In March 2023, it was renewed for a third season.

The series stars Jabari Banks as Will Smith, with Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Coco Jones, Olly Sholotan, Jimmy Akingbola, Akira Akbar, Jordan L Jones, and Simone Joy Jones.

The story follows Will Smith’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. It dives deep into racial tension, culture shock, and black excellence.